The following column originally appeared in the July 10, 2004, issue of Arkansas Catholic.

“Because he remains forever, Jesus has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them … He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:24-28)
The Letter to the Hebrews offers a reflection on the eternal priesthood of Christ, the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise, which reveals the ultimate meaning of sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ was “once for all” and obtained the forgiveness of our sins; now he is in the heavenly sanctuary, where he lives forever to intercede for us (see also Hebrews 8). The author of Hebrews finds great hope in the fact that we are always the subject of Christ’s prayer before the Father.
Priests share in the priesthood of Christ. Ours is not a ministry anyone would dare take upon himself, but only if called by God. Priests are called to offer the sacrifice of the Mass in union with Christ and to be the ministers of the sacraments, through which Christ continues his mission among us. Sharing the priesthood of Christ, priests are also to continually pray for their people.
So it is with bishops, who have the fullness of the priesthood.
As I travel the diocese, I often ask if anyone would like me to pray for an intention. Whenever I ask that question, a line of people forms after Mass, telling me about their relatives and friends who need prayers or about their own need. I am always moved by requests for prayer, and they have helped me understand the full dimensions of my ministry as bishop.
Pope John Paul highlighted this aspect of a bishop’s life in Pastores Gregis (Shepherds of the Flock):
“The bishop’s love of the holy Eucharist is also expressed when in the course of the day he devotes a fair part of his time to adoration before the tabernacle. Here the bishop opens his heart to the Lord, allowing it to be filled and shaped by the love poured forth from the cross by the great Shepherd of the sheep, who shed his blood and gave his life for them. To him the bishop raises his prayer in constant intercession for the sheep entrusted to his care (no. 16).”
It is my vocation as priest and bishop — and my privilege — to pray for you every day. In fact, it is an expression of my love for you. In that spirit, I would like to issue an invitation. If there is any intention for which you would like me to pray, please send a brief note in the mail. I will keep your note in my chapel and make your intention part of my daily prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Intercessory prayer brings together the Lord’s command to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. Christian prayer is always “in the name of Jesus,” because he continually intercedes for us before his Father. Pope John Paul has also written:
“To learn to pray means ’to learn the Father’… To learn who the Father is means learning what absolute trust is. To learn the Father means acquiring the certainty that he does not refuse you even when everything — materially and psychologically — seems to indicate refusal. He never refuses you.” Intercessory prayer, then, is a profound expression of hope in God. Even when we feel overwhelmed by life, prayer helps us find meaning in what we experience.
If you have any intentions for my prayer, mail them to:
Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List
Diocese of Little Rock
2500 North Tyler
P.O. Box 7239
Little Rock, AR 72217
One does not need to be on my prayer list in order to be in my prayers! It is my joy, every day, to lift up all of you to our Father in heaven, whose providential care accompanies us at every moment.